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Tiverton board to advertise waterfront rezoning; residents press for cottage protections
Summary
The Planning Board authorized staff to advertise an amendment to Tiverton’s future land‑use map to create Waterfront 1 and Waterfront 2 districts and set tentative hearing dates; residents urged protections for historic Riverside Drive cottages and the board agreed to study options before final recommendation.
The Tiverton Planning Board voted on Aug. 27 to authorize staff to advertise an amendment to the town’s comprehensive plan future land‑use map that would formalize a split of the current waterfront zone into Waterfront 1 and Waterfront 2 and make other map adjustments.
"I will make a motion to authorize staff to advertise an amendment to our comprehensive community plan, chapter 5, figure 5‑4, the future land use map, reflecting all of the changes we've discussed tonight," Chair Stu Hardy said; Tricia Hilton seconded the motion and the board carried it unanimously by voice/hand vote. The board discussed possible public‑hearing scheduling options, including a joint Planning Board/Town Council hearing Sept. 23, or Planning Board hearings Oct. 1 or Oct. 15, depending on map finalization and advertising schedules.
Staff explained procedural constraints: amendments to the future land‑use map require three consecutive weeks of newspaper advertising and the town may make only four comprehensive‑plan amendments per year; the board agreed to prioritize the waterfront amendment and to bundle smaller map fixes into a single filing where possible.
During the public‑comment period, residents raised concerns about a proposal to remove a row of small waterfront cottages from the waterfront district and return them to residential zoning. John Reed, a longtime resident, stated that the cottages are historic — "They're all over a hundred years old" — and urged the board to consider options that recognize their unique character rather than treating them as typical R‑30 lots. Board members agreed to research alternatives, such as a tailored small‑lot residential zone, comp‑plan language, or other non‑zoning recognition to protect character before any final vote.
Staff will prepare a revised GIS map (including the one lot the board agreed to keep as Waterfront 2) and publish the required advertisements; the board will review final ordinance language and performance standards (including those for marinas/boatyards and design standards for waterfront form) before making a final recommendation to the Town Council.
